Music Beyond embarks on its ninth trip to Congo today. Until December 12, our founder and president Kaori Fujii will work with men and women from the Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra, as well as meet with hundreds of young girls and their teachers at Malaika School in Lubumbashi. Malaika aims to empower Congolese girls and their communities through education and leadership skills. Kaori looks forward “to listening and learning through workshops, and continuing to explore more effective ways to enhance the lives of people in Congo through music.”

Kaori also looks forward to continuing her work with Music Beyond’s All-Female Chamber Ensemble, which was founded within the Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra during our last trip to Congo in 2016. The 13-member ensemble gives Congolese women a safe space to express and explore themselves through music. Music Beyond believes that it will be a beacon of hope for women and girls in Congo and many parts of the world.

Pauleth―a violinist in the All-Female Chamber Ensemble―captured the spirit of the ensemble when she said "My wish is to improve the quality of my music in order to defend the image of Congolese and African women throughout the world, despite the problems that surround us. I know that one day, our values will change the world." As JD Stier highlighted in our last blog post, Music Beyond is about more than music education. It is about building relationships and trust, and empowering individuals through music in the spirit of solidarity.

Over the next month, be sure to check Music Beyond’s social media, where we will be sharing behind-the-scenes moments, stories, and music-making from Congo. Stay tuned for a film by Jessica Jane Hart and Tarek Fouda, who join Music Beyond on this trip to document our work and share Kaori’s story and mission.

Join the music education movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by becoming a Friend of Music Beyond.

Music Beyondはいよいよ今日から、9回目のコンゴへ出発します！12月12日までのこの旅、代表の藤井香織は、首都キンシャサでキンバンギスト交響楽団のメンバーを教え、またコンゴ第2の都市ルブンバシにあるMalaika学校を訪問し、総勢280名の女子学生と教師たちにも会う予定になっています。コンゴの女子とコミュニティを、教育とリーダーシップのスキルを与えることで力付けていこうという目的で建てられたMalaika 、代表藤井は「今回の旅を楽しみにしている。これからもますます、コンゴの人々にとって良い方法で、彼らをサポートしていけるよう、よく話を聞き、理解し学んで来ようと思う。」と話していました。

Music Beyond, Inc.

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Music Beyond is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers individuals through music and outreach in developing countries, currently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By cultivating the roles of local musicians as performers, mentors and nurturers, Music Beyond fosters an enduring and positive impact within communities.